Truss



, No Model.)

J. F. NEWTON.

- TRUSS. v

No. 437,788. Patented Oct. 7, 1890,

73,771 651% w-to n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. NEW'TON, OF BARDSTOVVN, KENTUCKY,

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,788, dated October '7, 1890.

Application filed May 15, 1890. Serial No. 3511968. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. NEWTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bardstown, in the county of Nelson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trusses in which either a single or a double pad is employed in the treatment of ruptures.

The object of the present invention is to provide a truss-pad that will be simple and durable and is especially designed to securely hold back the intestines and cover completely the orifice in the abdomen through which the hernia protrudes; and it consists of a novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a general view of the truss as applied, a pad on both ends of body-spring, and the bandage attachment connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the truss-pad with all connections thereto. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of same. Fig. 4 is a detail of trusspad-spring attachment. Fig. 5 is a View of adjustable body-spring band.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A represents the body-spring of the truss, constructed in a shape to conform to the outlines of the body around the waist, and may be of any desired form or metal, and may be covered, as is customary, with any suitable material to avoid irritable friction with the body. Body-springA consists of two sections A and A as shown in Fig. 5, one of which works within the other and locks therewith, making a truss that is adjustable to persons of any size. Section A at its connectingpoint with section A is provided with turneddown edges B, that form a guide-groove for the end of the opposite section to work in.

G represents hooks, formed integral with section A and are adapted to enter into engagement with slots 13 in the opposite springsect-ion A Body-spring A at its pad-connecting end is provided with perforations E and E, through which screws F and F are adapted to pass and to hold truss-pad thereto. Spring A is bent sharply inward between perforations to form an attaching-foot G for the truss-pad, and to set the pad off from main body-spring and to allow more elasticity in its action.

II represents a cross-piece, which is attached to the main spring A by screw F and is secured at right angles thereto. The cross-piece II is constructed of any suitable material of an elastic nature, and from the screw-threaded perforation at its center, where it is attached to the spring A, it is curved inward to form attachingdegs I and I, respectively corresponding in shape to leg G and constructed with reference to the same result, and having at the ends thereof perforations J for attaching with truss-pad K represents my improved truss-pad ring. It is formed, as is shown, of a continuous band of rounded metal, but may be of a flattened shape, and the periphery of which forms a perfect circle, celluloid, hard rubber, tin, wood, or any other suitable substance being employed in the manufacture of the same. Pad-ring K is provided with screw-threaded holes L, to enable it to be firmly attached to legs G, I, and I by means of screws F, M, and M, respectively. The special construction of said attaching-legs gives pad-ring K, as said, especial elasticity of action, and they serve by their novel arrangement to hold the pad rigidly in and upward to the body and away from main body-spring, thereby pressing back and firmly retaining the hernia in place.

In some cases of hernia there is considerably more pressure required to hold it in place than in others, and to allow for this I provide pad-ring K within its inner portion with a spiral-spring attachment N. Attachment N consists of a metallic stud 0, provided with a screw-threaded hole P at one end that screws up inside of pad-ring on screw F, which at taches crosspiece H to body-spring A, and the shank of which extends through said crosspiece a sufficient length to allow for said spiral-spring attachment, and to the other end of stud O is secured a spiral spring P, that works within the pad-ring and readily gives to all motions of the body and presses pad firmly against the body.

Suitable material is used with pad-ring to form its padding, if required, hard rubber, celluloid, compressed paper, cloth, or any similar substances that are customarily used being permissible.

After the truss is placed on the body in the usual Way, and the pad or pads are placed over the hernial opening or openings in double rupture, the two rings or two ends of the truss are fastened together tight enough to prevent undue separation by strap Q, attached to the knobs of screws F, that are constructed in View of the attachment. In a single truss strap Q may be formed integral with the customary covering of body-spring and connected from free end to ring-pad end, and in a double truss is an ordinary strap, as described,.or it may be constructed of any material that could be suitably used as a connecting-strip.

The truss is held more firmly in position and more closely to the body by the use of a bandage R, which is adjusted with reference to the kind of truss employed, being arranged between the limbs and connected to pad-rings or ring ends of body-spring and rear portion of body-spring in an ordinary manner.

Having described my improvement in trusses and the pads thereof, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a truss, the combination of a bodyspring consisting of two sections, one of which is provided with guide-arms and hooks adapted to receive theend of the other section and to engage with slots therein, and a pad-ring of a complete circular contour, attached to the body-spring by means of legs screwed thereto, said legs consisting of one end of the bodyspring being abruptly curved at its end and of a cross-piece right-angularly secured to the body-spring and having correspondinglycurved arms, all combined substantially as described.

2. In a truss, the combination of a pad-ring of a complete circular contour, attached to a body-sprin g by means of legs secured thereto, said legs consisting of one end of the bodyspring being abruptly curved at its end and of a cross-piece right-angularly secured to the body spring and having correspondinglycurved arms, and a stud carrying a spiral spring rigidly secured within said pad-ring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. NEl/VTON. 

